Nether Providence community mourns death of 6-year-old

NETHER PROVIDENCE -- A somber tone engulfed the back parking lot of Nether Providence Elementary School on Friday night as about 200 people silently gathered to remember the life of a 6-year-old student who regularly raced down a nearby sidewalk to greet a crossing guard he befriended one year ago.

The boy, Tyreece Charlow, died last week, allegedly at the hands of his uncle, Paul M. Adams, who is now behind bars and facing a first-degree murder charge.

The crowd lit candles and quietly sobbed as a series of speakers shared their memories of Charlow and called for parents, students and residents to support one another throughout a difficult time.

Gordon E. Simmons, pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, spoke first, encouraging people to remember their "wonderful memories" of Charlow amidst the feelings of grief and shock encompassing the community.

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"We had a storm blow through Nether Providence this week -- and I'm not talking about Hurricane Sandy," Simmons said. "It's a storm that has affected all of us."

Simmons then drew a parallel to the Bible story of Jesus calming the storm as he and his disciples were sailing across the Sea of Galilee. As Jesus slept in the boat, a threatening storm swept across the sky, frightening the disciples.

It was a story Charlow learned during Bible School last summer, Simmons said.

"He learned the story doesn't end with the storm," Simmons said. "The story ends with Jesus saying to the storm to be calm and it becoming calm."

Simmons then led the group in a prayer for mercy for Charlow's family, community, parents struggling to explain tragedy to their children and for those who commit violence.

Simmons gave way to Mark Bickel, pastor of Grace Bible Fellowship Church, who read a few remarks on behalf of Joyce Taylor, a crossing guard who had nicknamed Charlow "Tigger."

Charlow often would race toward Taylor, telling her, "I'm very fast; someday I'll be a football player," Bickel said.

Taylor described Charlow as quiet, Bickel said, but noticed how he particularly cared for his cousin.

"He often carried his cousin's backpack home with pride because he wanted to be a gentleman," Bickel said as he read Taylor's remarks.

Taylor's remarks concluded with a statement struggling to understand how a young boy's life could be taken so tragically and early, a sentiment many in the community presumably shared.

"There's no easy way to explain it," Bickel said, reading Taylor's remarks. "I wish I lived in a world where things like this don't happen, but they do."

Adams, a fourth-degree black belt in karate, allegedly confessed to beating Charlow with belts for 45 minutes on Nov. 1, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan said Monday. Adams, 38, admitted to holding the boy's hands down during the beating as punishment for his failure to pick out an outfit for school the next day, according to investigators.

Whelan said he also believes Adams used his hands and feet to kill the child, adding that Assistant Delaware County Medical Examiner Dr. Bennett Preston called Charlow's injuries "the worst case of child abuse he's ever seen." Adams is being held in Delaware County prison without bail.

Charlow's death had filled the Nether Providence community with a sorrow it was still trying to handle Friday. Many people wiped tears from their eyes as they cried throughout the vigil. Others stood silently, their heads bowed.

Principal Al Heinle concluded the vigil by saying Charlow will be missed. He added that he was encouraged by the way parents and students had joined together in the last week and asked them to remain supportful.

"In the days ahead, please take care of each other," Heinle said. "And take care of our children."